2011 Infiniti M (Nissan Fuga)

2011 Infiniti M (Nissan Fuga)

TOKYO SHOW UPDATE: Carlos Ghosn unveiled Nissan's luxury sedan, the Fuga, which goes on sale in Japan in November and in the U.S. next spring as the new Infiniti M. Showing little of the handsome Infiniti Essence coupe concept, the Fuga/M instead looks like the big sibling to the Infiniti G/Nissan Skyline. Side surfacing is much like the G's, and the very fast backlight ends in a Mercedes-esque taillamp treatment. Up front, the grille looks like it's from the Infiniti FX, shrunk to an appropriate car size. Inside, the center console protrudes more than any we've seen lately, and the rear seat is highly contoured, suggesting that a fifth passenger in the middle isn't a good idea. The M thus comes off as a larger-than-G 2+2 sedan. In the North American market, we'll have a choice of three powerplants, the base 3.7-liter V-6, a 5.6-liter V-8 or a 3.5-liter V-6/electric hybrid using lithium-ion batteries
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: The 2011 Infiniti M series will essentially make its production debut at the Tokyo show as the Japanese-market Nissan Fuga, and more importantly, it will mark the debut of Infiniti’s first hybrid model, the M35 Hybrid. The M35 Hybrid will go on-sale as a 2012 model one year after the rest of the updated M range, which is slated to go on-sale in the spring of 2010 for the 2011 model year.
While the new M is a big debut for Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti (which isn’t sold in Japan, the vehicles are badged as Nissans), the M35 Hybrid will no doubt take center stage. Employing the company’s 3.5L V-6 gas engine and a version of the the laminated lithium-ion battery pack from the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle, the M35 Hybrid combines them with an electric motor separated from the gas engine by a unique dual-clutch system which allows the car to act as a parallel hybrid with the electric motor either boosting performance or acting as a generator to recharge the battery. Infiniti expects it to be the most fuel-efficient model in the M range, though the company isn’t talking specifics yet.
Non-hybrid versions of the M will offer either V-6 or V-8 engines, which vary depending on the market. For U.S.-bound cars, the M37 will feature a 300-plus-horsepower 3.7L V-6 engine with an optional AWD system while the rear-drive M56 will boast a 400-plus-horsepower 5.6L V-8. European markets will forgo the V-8 in favor of a high-performance diesel V-6 while the Japanese-market Fuga will offer either the 3.7L V-6 or a smaller 2.5L V-6 engine. All models are expected to use a new seven-speed automatic transmission.
2011 Nissan Fuga Infiniti M Interior
Complimenting the new engine options are a bevy of high-tech features designed to increase safety and performance. Computer-adjustable pedals work with an ECO-pedal program to increase fuel efficiency and with a Navigation-Cooperative Intelligent Pedal system to predict upcoming corners using the satellite navigation maps and decrease accelerator pedal pressure while increasing brake pedal pressure. Meanwhile, Active Stability Response will intervene in the pedals, steering and engine response to help keep the car stable in hard maneuvers and under control.
Other high-tech features include an active blind spot monitoring system that will intervene if the driver attempts to change lanes when another vehicle is in the way, double-piston shock absorbers for a smoother ride and a Forest Air-Con climate control system that can not only regulate temperature and fan speed but detect and control humidity and odors. It can even release a mild scent into the airstream that will make the cabin smell forest fresh.